Yucky Worms

I just bought this book for my little friend Solomon today.  It has extremely cute illustrations and I have to admit, I learned a thing or two about worms.  Since worms are so valuable in every garden, it's probably important to teach the little ones (and big ones) respect for those slithering things.  Check out the diagram of the worm.  Did you know that worms hearts (five) are all located near the head of the worm?  Sadly, I didn't.  It's a story of a grandmother and her grandson gardening together and studying worms together.  It's actually really adorable.  

Yucky Worms

by Vivian French and illustrated by Jessica Ahlberg

Candlewick Press, 2009

Living Systems

Living Systems

Innovative Materials and Technologies for Landscape Architecture

by Liatt Margolis and Alexander Robinson

Birkhauser, 2007

This book showcases installations around the world using architectural ingenuity and innovative materials.  From infalatable dam systems, wind walls and cloud machines to erosion control and tree crutches. There is illustrations to document each project and a brief description of the process.  Living Systems is like science fiction for garden lovers. 

Amarant

Amarant

The Flora and Fauna of Atlantis By a Lady Botanist 

by Una Woodruff

G.P. Putnam's Sons

New York, 1981

I purchased Amarant from MacLeod's Books on Pender Street.  This book felt like an absolute treasure amongst the human sized piles of second hand books. The colours and details in these pictures are so vivid.  Each picture holds further secrets.  As you look closely at the beautiful flower illustration you might notice that the flower encompasses dozens of tiny insects or other surprises.  It's really an inspiring adult picture book. 

The story itself is set in 1681 following the life of Lady Elizabeth Hurnshaw. A regal woman from England. Elizabeth and her husband always had an affection for botany and when her husband passes away suddenly, Elizabeth and her son set out on an adventure to journey to the Americas. They instead stumble upon an island called Amarantos, or later would be referred to as the lost island of Atlantis.  They spend twenty years studying and documenting the strange flora and fauna of this island.  Later they return to Europe with there illustrations, only to disappear again not long after.  The colourful illustrations within Amarant showcase all the findings from there time on Amarantos.